The OUPV/Six-Pack final exam at Mariners Learning System takes most students two to two and a half hours to complete. It’s a closed-book, proctored, multiple-choice test with 160 questions across four modules: Chart Plotting, Navigation General, Deck General and Safety, and Rules of the Road. You have five business days and up to 3.5 hours per module to finish.
The exam is the part of the licensing process that makes people the most nervous, and I get it. Many of our students haven’t taken a test in years, sometimes decades. The thought of sitting down and proving what you know can feel intimidating.
But here’s what I tell every student: If you’ve put in the time with the course, you already know the material. The exam is just the confirmation. At Mariners, our students carry a consistently high pass rate because we teach the why behind every answer, not just the answer itself.
Here’s exactly what to expect.
The OUPV/Six-Pack final exam is divided into four separately graded modules. You don’t take all 160 questions in one sitting; you work through each module individually during a five-business-day testing window. Each module allows up to 3.5 hours, though most students finish each one well under that limit.
|
Module |
Number of Questions |
Passing Score |
Questions You Can Miss |
|
Chart Plotting |
10 |
90% |
1 |
|
Navigation General |
50 |
70% |
15 |
|
Deck General and Safety |
50 |
70% |
15 |
|
Rules of the Road |
50 |
90% |
5 |
Chart Plotting and Rules of the Road carry the highest passing thresholds at 90%. Many students report that the plotting questions require the most focused preparation.
The average student finishes the entire exam in two to two and a half hours across all four modules. Some students move faster; others take more time. The 3.5-hour per-module allowance gives you plenty of room.
With Mariners Learning System, the entire exam is taken online through your student account. You don’t need to travel to a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Regional Exam Center. No appointment is necessary; you can begin your exam any day, any time.
The exam is proctored remotely. You’ll need a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone, plus a stable internet connection. Our 24/7 technical support team is available by chat and phone if you run into any issues during the test.
You can take the OUPV/Six-Pack exam entirely online through your Mariners Learning System account, with 24/7 remote proctoring and tech support, so there’s no need to visit a USCG testing center.
No. You have five business days from the start of your first module to complete all four. You can spread the modules across separate sittings within that window.
No. The OUPV/Six-Pack final exam at Mariners is entirely closed-book. You can’t reference your course materials, notes, or any outside resources during the test.
That’s why we build genuine understanding into the coursework rather than encouraging memorization.
When you learn the reasoning behind a rule, not just the rule itself, the answer sticks. That’s the philosophy behind every lesson, video, and practice quiz in the Mariners course.
The Mariners OUPV exam is closed-book, which is why our course teaches the “why” behind every concept, not just the answer, so the knowledge stays with you on the water.
If you don’t pass a module on your first attempt, you can retest after reviewing the material. Retakes must happen within three months of the original attempt or before your course access expires, whichever comes first.
You only retake the module you didn’t pass, not the entire exam. And if a specific topic gave you trouble, our licensing specialists are available by phone and email to walk you through it before your second attempt.
If you don’t pass a module, you only retake that specific module, not the entire exam, and our team is here to help you prepare for a successful retest.
You can retake a failed module after additional review. The retake must occur within three months of the original attempt or before your one-year course expiration date. The retake is included with your course at no extra charge.
The Mariners OUPV/Six-Pack course is designed as a roughly 57-hour program, but most students complete it in 25 to 30 hours at their own pace. You have 12 full months of access, so there’s no reason to rush.
Here’s what helps the students who pass on their first try:
Because we wrote the course and the exam, every lesson directly prepares you for the specific test you’ll take. That alignment is the single biggest reason our students perform well.
Every lesson in the Mariners course directly prepares you for the specific exam you’ll take, because we wrote both the course and the test, and the USCG approved them together.
If you’re deciding between the OUPV/Six-Pack and the Master captain’s license, the exam structures differ:
|
Exam Detail |
OUPV/Six-Pack |
Master Upgrade |
|
Total Questions |
160 |
70 |
|
Number of Modules |
4 |
1 |
|
Passing Score |
70% to 90% (Varies by Module) |
70% |
|
Average Completion Time |
2 to 2.5 Hours |
30 to 45 Minutes |
|
Format |
Closed-Book, Proctored |
Closed-Book, Proctored |
The OUPV exam is broader because it covers all four subject areas from scratch. The Master Upgrade exam is shorter because it tests only the additional material beyond what the OUPV/Six-Pack already covered.
If you meet the sea time and other requirements for a Master captain’s license upfront, you can go for it right away. You’d take both exams: the full OUPV/Six-Pack exam (160 questions) followed by the Master Upgrade exam (70 questions). It’s the same coursework and testing, just completed together instead of years apart.
The OUPV exam covers more ground and has stricter passing thresholds on two of its four modules (90% on Plotting and Rules of the Road). The Master Upgrade is a single 70-question module at 70%. Most students find the OUPV exam more challenging simply because of the volume and the two 90% bars.
You’ll need a desktop or laptop computer (no tablets or phones), a webcam, a microphone, and a reliable internet connection. For the Chart Plotting module, you’ll also need plotting tools: parallel rulers, dividers, and a chart as specified in your course materials.
No. The proctored exam requires a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone. Phones and tablets don’t meet the proctoring requirements.
The students who struggle most with the OUPV/Six-Pack exam aren’t the ones who lack knowledge. They’re the ones who let test anxiety hold them back. If you’ve worked through the course, completed the quizzes, and reviewed your weak spots, you’re prepared.
The OUPV exam isn’t designed to trick you; it’s designed to confirm you have the knowledge to keep people safe on the water.
If you have questions about the exam or any other part of the licensing process, the team at Mariners Learning System is here to help. We’ve guided more than 200,000 students through this process, and we’re not going to let paperwork be the reason you don’t get your license.
This article is for educational purposes only. Exam formats, passing scores, and testing policies are subject to change by the USCG and by Mariners Learning System. Verify current exam details through your student account or by contacting our team. Consult the National Maritime Center for the most current regulatory guidance.
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